The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-06-01
AT THE CAPITAL.
LANSING, May 20, 1887.

the Legislature moves right along in the
even tenor OF its way, and according to the
best possible calculations that can be made,
is likely to continue until nearly or quite
the close of June.
TWO CENTS PER MILE.
One of the much petitioned bills before
the present Legislature is the one
to reduce railroad fare in this
State from three to two cents per
mile. Early in the session il looked as if
such q bill might easily pass, but later the
tide seemed setting in favor of q compro-
mise on two and one-half cents. Ii was
shown that two cent fare would cause
an actual loss on the roads in the upper
peninsula and on many of the shorter and
weaker roads in the lower, while all roads
would thus be compelled to cut off more or
less Of the accommodations they are now
furnishing, and perhaps run less trains per
day. When the bill came up for final
passage on the 10Th the discussion
lasted all day, Representative Manley,
of Ann Arbor, the father of the bill,
making an able and stubborn fight for his
pet measure. When the vote was finally
reached some friends of the measure were
surprised TO find that it had passed by a
vote of yeas IS, nays 16. Before the roll
call on the final passage Representative
Bates, of Allegan, who has used passes as
free y as anybody else for the session of
1885, and SO far this session, sought to shut
off the next Legislature from courtesies he
has so long enjoyed by moving to add the
words And provided further, that no Of
ficer in this State, either elective or APP
pointive, shall be permitted to receive or
such pass issued to him on account of his
being such official, shall be guilty of mis-
demeanor, and upon conviction shall be
fined not less than ten dollars nor more
than fifty dollars, III the discretion of the
court" his was voted down, yeas 20,
nays 80. Yet the vote does not prove any
thing as 10 what the vote will be when the
independent proposition comes up to pro-
hibit any road from issuing passes.
AS finally passed, this bill provides a
two cent per mile rate for passenger trans
portation in the Lower Peninsula. Three
cents may be charged on all Upper PENN
sula roads for the next five years, and two
and one-half thereafter. For distances of
five miles or less four cents may be
charged. New roads are also exempted
from the provisions of the bill for a term
of five years after they are opened for
business. Important changes are also
made in freight rates. The limit is not
more than 80 per car per mile for any dis
lance not exceeding three miles, 90 cents
per mile for the next ten miles, and %
cents per mile thereafter. All Upper
Peninsula roads, and all roads operating
less than fifteen miles of road, are ex-
empted from the freight provisions.
There are many reasons to believe that
the bill in its present form will not pass
the Senate, but that il is more likely to be
made two and one-half cents for the Lower
Peninsula.
GRAVEYARD INSURANCE TO BE STAMPED
OUT.
The House. on the 18th, reached q final
vote on Representative Cross bill TO regu-
late the organization and manner of doing
business by the cooperative mutual life in
surance companies doing business in this
State, and promptly passed it by vote of
yeas 80, nays II; absent or not voting, "a.
The bill limits the age at which parties can
be insured at 60 years, and places many
much needed restrictions around the bust
ness that can have no other effect but to
wind up all the graveyard" companies that
have been swindling their patrons with
such high hand and with so much profit
to their officers. The Senate will promptly
pass the bill.
APPROPRIATIONS, ACTUAL AND PRoBA-
BILE.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations
and Finance report that bills have passed
and are pending before that committee as
follows: